Light, Heavenly, Orange Muffins

I am not a huge fan of orange flavored desserts or sweets, but these incredibly fresh tasting muffins are a major exception. These are made with fresh oranges and that's exactly what they taste like. Fresh, soft, delicious, warm bites of heaven. The muffins are not overly sweet and the glaze tastes just like fresh squeezed orange juice.

Orange Muffins:

Cooking Spray
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup to 3/4 cup sugar, depending on how sweet you like your muffins
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Zest of 1 orange
Freshly squeezed juice of 1 large orange
1/4 to 1/3 cup of milk, as needed
1/3 cup butter, melted and cooled
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Orange glaze:
Zest of 1 orange
1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (Use the orange you just zested)
1/3 cup of sugar

**This recipe makes about 10-12 medium sized muffins. You may consider doubling**

*Preheat the oven to 400, spray the muffin pan with cooking spray
*In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
*After juicing the oranges, add enough milk to measure 1/2 cup PLUS an additional 2 tablespoons of milk
*In second bowl, add the orange juice mixture, the butter, egg, vanilla, and baking soda and whisk until blended
*Add the wet ingredients to the dry and combine with as few strokes as possible.
*Fold in the zest
*Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, filling each one 1/2 to 2/3 full.
*Bake until golden and fragrant, 15 to 20 minutes (test by inserting toothpick)
Prepare the glaze
*Bring the orange zest, juice and sugar to a boil
*Turn down the heat and let it simmer until slightly thickened, stirring frequently
*Let cool slightly (the glaze should be liquidy so it soaks into the muffins)
*Let the muffins cool 2 minutes and spoon the glaze over them.

Serve warm. Mmmmmmm:) ***OH! And a big shout out to my 10 year old daughter who helped make these!***